The
Ghost Mantis, one of the weirdest mantids kept in
captivity. This particular species is favoured by
many, for its cryptic looks, its swaying movement,
and its evil looking figure.
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As described by its name, the Ghost Mantis looks
like...well, thats for you to guess. This is
a miniature species, with adults only growing
up to 5cm. Females, as with most species, are
slightly longer, and have a wider abdomen and
wing case. Sexual dimorphism is the usual, 8
segments for the male, and 6 or 7 for the female.
Colours can vary, from a dark brown, almost
black, to a grey/green colour. These colours
are dependant on light and humidity levels,
and colours change between shedding of the skin.
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The Phylocrania Paradoxa is one the more exotic
species of mantis kept by hobbyists, and needs
a little more care than species such as the
Sphodromantis or Hierodula. This species originates
from Asia and Madagascar, where temperature
and humidity is high. As with any species,
it is best to stimulate these conditions in
captivity. One might use a humidity gauge,
however, these can be hard to purchase. To
keep a high level of humidity, the enclosure
must be sprayed every day. Water is a very
important factor to the survival of the Phylocrania,
and this is what some hobbyist’s lack,
leading to further health problems. Temperatures
from around 22-28C will benefit the most.
The temperature needs to be of that to keep
a steady metabolism, and also to evaporate
any standing water, which may lead to bacterial
or fungal infections.
Humidity is
also needed for shedding purposes. The rather
unusual shape of the Ghost Mantis means that
there can be a lot of problems occurring whilst
shedding the skin. If the humidity is to low,
then the skin will be too hard to shed easily,
and the mantis will become tangled up, and
then that will lead to death.
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Being a miniature species, the Ghost Mantis
doesn't need a huge enclosure. This species
is not very active either, and will happily
sit in the same spot for a few days. The only
time they will really venture is when they are
out to catch food.
Nymphs are best
housed in large, nylon nets. This way, there
is a constant supply of ventilation, and also
there is a lot of room for the nymphs to roam.
Using nylon nets means that feeding is a made
a lot easier. One large fruit fly culture can
be placed in the net, and then the zip done
up. This way the flies can fly in and out of
the culture freely, and the nymphs can have
a large area to hunt. The nymphs can be kept
communally until L4/5. This is when cannibalism
kicks in the most. Some hobbyists keep the Ghost
Mantis communally throughout their life, however,
this is only if there is a constant supply of
food, and a lot of foliage.
An adult will
need to be housed in an enclosure no larger
than 15x15x15, unless the enclosure is being
used for decoration purposes. The main drawback
of having an overly large enclosure is that
catching prey will become a hard task, as the
live food will disperse around the enclosure.
A good size to house an adult in would be a
standard 7x7x12 enclosure, give or take a few
inches on each dimension.
The enclosure
must be decorated with a range of foliage, to
stimulate the natural habitat. Dead twigs and
leaves, silk plants, repti-vines and any other
natural looking decor will suffice. As the Phylocrania
is a cryptic species, having a range of dead
branches, scattered with dead leaves makes an
effective enclosure, as you can then see just
how accurate the camouflage is.
It is advised
to use a substrate, as for any exotic mantis
species. Not only does it add to the look of
the enclosure, but also it helps to keep humidity
levels high. The most effective substrate is
soil or peat. Also, a layer of compressed coconut
fibre is a great substrate, as this is very
clean, and you can be assured no form of pesticide
or any other harmful chemicals will be present.
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Overall, the Ghost Mantis really does live up
to its name. The eerie, ghost like figure, and
the slow, creepy movements. Its unique look
and colours are liked by all, and the contrast
between its small size, and its ferocious nature.
However, this is not a species for the beginner,
and would require some experience with keeping
mantids, before this one was introduced to the
collection
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